Like Cuba, Puerto Rico and Brazil, Colombia breathes music. From the folk rhythms of vallenato and cumbia to more contemporary genres such as Latin pop rock and electronica, the land where Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez was born has been a fertile breeding ground for generations of talented artists whose passion for music has won them international acclaim.
But besides Juanes, Shakira and Aterciopelados, the most popular Colombian artists in the United States today, there's an up-and-coming indie band hailing from the coffee lands that is bursting into the Latino and Anglo markets in the US and establishing itself as a powerful and trend-setting alt-electronica force — Bomba Estéreo.
The band, which will kick of an international, multi-city tour in April (including numerous stops in the United States), recently released a new "Ponte Bomb" digital EP featuring their cover of Technotronic’s dance-floor classic “Pump Up The Jam,” as well as a collection of new remixes for “Fuego” and “La Boquilla.
”Bomba Estereo’s “Pump Up The Jam” cover was originally recorded for a special Levi’s project featuring a collection of today’s pioneering musicians re-crafting their favorite classic songs. The compilation included artists like The Roots (feat. John Legend), The Shins, Swell Season and Nas.
Although Bomba Estéreo was formed by Simon Mejia in 2005 within Bogota's rich underground electronic scene, 2010 launched the group to new musical heights as it became a global touring force, performing everywhere from the Bonnaroo Music Festival to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and more than 50 European cities.
In addition, last year Bomba — on the strenght of singing sensation Liliana Saumet — also won MTV Iggy’s “Best New Band In The World” title, beating out other top indie acts like Surfer Blood, Matias Aguayo, The Very Best and Sleigh Bells.
“The first album was a much more personal and electronic work,” said Mejia. “I recorded it all in my house and invited different people to perform on each track. It was more of an ‘instrumental album.’ So Li and I ended up making ‘Blow Up’ together, focusing more on actual songwriting and lyrics, all with the cumbia sound at their core.
”Bomba Estéreo's upcoming tour will start on April 2 at Lollapalooza Festival in Santiago, Chile, followed by Vive Latino Festival on April 8 in Mexico City and April 14 in Miami. Other dates include Coachella Music & Arts Festival (April 16, Indo, California); SOBs in New York City (May 5) and Larimer Lounge in Denver, Colorado (May 18).
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